A 36-year-old woman who broke into a pensioner's home along with her former husband to steal items has been jailed for 10 months at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Elizabeth Murphy pleaded guilty to taking part in the late night raid at the 77-year-old woman's home in Kelso.

She stole a £50 cheque which was contained in a 21st birthday card and a set of keys during the break-in.

The pensioner - who was living alone at the time - had confronted the pair after hearing a downstairs light being switched on.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: "The lady was in a state of shock."

The court was told that the police were already on the look-out for Murphy, also known as Steven, and her husband and they were apprehended nearby the property in Maxmill Lane, Kelso.

Murphy told police that it was her ex-husband - who has already served a prison sentence for the same break-in - who forced her to go along with it.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said that there was no doubt Murphy's previous partners had caused her "great unhappiness" in her life.

However he said this was the sort of case - breaking into an elderly lady's home - in which she could not escape personal responsibility and he would be failing in his public duties if he did not impose a custodial sentence.

Murphy, whose last address was in Galashiels, had her 10-months jail sentence back-dated to February 27.